October 24, 2003

CALLING SOMETHING A BUICK ISN'T BAD ENOUGH?:

Slang crosses up GM (MARYANNA LEWYCKYJ, October 16, 2003, TORONTO SUN)

It's game over for the Buick LaCrosse in Canada. A General Motors executive yesterday admitted that the future Buick model -- which is set to debut late next year -- will be re-named in Canada after GM learned LaCrosse is a Quebec slang term for masturbation.

The new mid-size sedan, which will replace the Buick Regal, will still go by the name LaCrosse in the U.S.


That's the verb form--used as a noun you'd say, "What a Chretien".

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 24, 2003 6:36 PM
Comments

"This is not your father's Oldsmobile" takes on a frightening meaning...

Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at October 24, 2003 8:05 PM

Anybody got any idea who that meaning got attached to that word?

Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 25, 2003 8:38 PM

Well, it certainly makes sense, as slang for an erection... Perhaps la crosse is only part of a phrase for masturbation.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at October 26, 2003 5:45 AM

Michael:

Don't think so. Cross in French is "croix". It has to be a take on the sport, unless it is Old French.

Living in Quebec as I do, and owing the highest duty to my Brosjudd colleagues, I intend to go up and down my street tonight knocking on doors to see if anybody can help me help Harry. I'll be back to you, assuming I get back.

Posted by: Peter Burnet at October 26, 2003 8:20 AM

Once upon a time they produced a car called the Nova , they were not detered when somebody pointed out that no va means no go in spanish.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 26, 2003 10:12 PM

Once upon a time they produced a car called the Nova , they were not detered when somebody pointed out that no va means no go in spanish.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 26, 2003 10:12 PM
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